Compensator for wire fences



(No Model.)

S. O. BOWEN. GOMPENSATOR FOR WIRE FENOES.

No. 606.506. Patented June 28, 1898.

WITNESSES.

IIVVE/VTUH [M6 $01M ATTORNEY.

" FFICE.

SAMUEL O. BOIVEN, OF MEDINA, NEW YORK.

COMPENSATOR FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent'No. 608,506, dated June 28 1898. Application filed June 17,1 96. serum. 595,869. woman.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, S MUEL O. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compensators for Wire Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same.

The invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of wire-fence compensators; and it consists, essentially, of two brackets having a coil-spring interposed between them and each carrying a windingspindle journaled therein, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The objectof the invention is to principally provide an efficient device in a fence line-wire of a greater capacity for winding the wire from each way thanthose now used on posts and which will automatically tension the line-wires of a fence so as to c0111- somewhat enlarged'; Fig. 3, a side elevation of one of the brackets and its winding-spindle, and Fig. 4 a modification of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the several figures,

the numeral 1 indicates the posts, and 2 the line-wires, of the fence. Each line-wire is divided into two, sections with the ends over-- lapping each other, so as to be connected to the opposite ends of an interposed compensating device 3, which consists of two brackets 4t and 5, having a coil-spring 6 interposed between them. Each bracket is formed with a tapering hub 7 and half-bearings 8. The hub of one bracket is seated within one end of the coil-spring, while the hub of the other bracket is seated within the opposite end of said spring, with the ends of the spring resting against the rear side of the respective brackets. i

J ournaled in the half-bearings of each bracket is a spindle 9, which is provided at one end with a ratchet-head 10 and at the other end with a square portion 11, which is adapted to receive a wrench or other tool, by means of which it may be rotated. Each spindle is provided with hole 12, in which is the face of the ratchet-head, so as to hold the spindle in proper operative position in its bearings. By providing the lug or stop with the projection 14 I dispense with the usual flange on the spindle for accomplishing the samepurpose, and the advantage to be derived therefrom is an important one, as I am enabled to decrease both the width of the bracket and the length of the spindle, thereby lessening the expense of construction.

In applying the compensator the end of one section of the. divided line-wire (as shown in Fig. 1, the right hand) is secured to spindle 4, and the end of the other section (left hand) is secured to the spindle 5. By rotating the spindle of each bracket the coil-spring is co1npressed and each section of theline-wire is tensioned, and thereafter the expansion and contraction of the line wi res are automatically compensated for.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the coilspring is dispensed with, the two spindlesupporting brackets being placed end to end. The line-wires are attached to the respective spindles in the same manner as heretofore described. This device is especially adaptable at points where the line-wires are spliced. Instead of splicing the wires the device is inserted, thus saving considerable time and trouble occupied in splicing.

' Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fence-wire-con1pensating device, the combination of two hollow supportingbrackets, placed end to end, each provided with a ratchet-head spindle journaled across the outer end of the bracket, with its ratchethead outside thereof, and a lug or detent, formed on the outside of the bracket, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-head, to

prevent backward rotation of the spindle,

said lug having a projection arranged to retain said spindle in proper operative position, with a divided fence-'wire, one end of which passes through one supporting-bracket and is connected to the spindle of the other bracket, While the other end of the Wire passes through the other bracket and is connected to the spindle of the first bracket.

2. In a fence-wire-co1npensating device, the combination of two hollow supportingbrackets, placed end to end, a spiral spring between said brackets, each bracket being provided with a ratchet-head spindle journaled across the outer end of the bracket, with its ratchet-head outside thereof, and a lug or detent, formed on the outside of the bracket, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-head, to prevent backward rotation of the spindle, said lug having a projection 

